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FYI #140: Remarks of Dr. Ray Orbach (fwd)




Hi all,

From the message below, notice the following:

Also discussed was the twenty-year facilities plan for the Office of
Science.  Saying that it "proved to be considerably more difficult
than I had imagined," Orbach described the plan's six year epochs as
near term, midterm, and long-term.  Twenty-eight projects are
scheduled.  Orbach will sign off soon on the first steps needed to
start the process for near term projects.  "Clearly we are not going
to make it" on the outlined schedule, since funding has yet to be
secured, he warned.   Although not all projects successfully made it
into the plan, Orbach defended the process.  

Energy Secretary Abraham will release this plan on November 10 at the
National Press Club.  His remarks, at 1:00 pm EST, will be broadcast live
on National Public Radio and C-SPAN.

Cheers, Elton.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2003 14:39:46 -0500
From: fyi@aip.org
To: elton@CEBAF.GOV
Subject: FYI #140: Remarks of Dr. Ray Orbach

FYI
The American Institute of Physics Bulletin of Science Policy News
Number 140: October 31, 2003

Ray Orbach Addresses DOE Advisory Committee

Office of Science Director Ray Orbach offered candid remarks last
week to the DOE Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee.  Meeting
in suburban Washington, this committee, chaired by John Hemminger,
discussed the recent hydrogen energy workshop and facilities such as
the Linac Coherent Light Source and the Spallation Neutron Source.

Orbach began his remarks saying the report of the hydrogen energy
workshop (see http://www.aip.org/enews/fyi/2003/109.html ) was a
"tremendous success," adding  that "it speaks to the relevance of
this committee."  He quickly reminded the committee that "It's one
thing to announce the hydrogen economy, it's another thing to get us
there."  Turning to Patricia Dehmer, Director of the Office of Basic
Energy Sciences, Orbach asked for the development of a plan or a
path-forward, of next steps to be taken, saying that DOE is firmly
behind hydrogen energy as a major initiative.  President Bush,
Orbach said, sees as part of his legacy the development of a
hydrogen-fueled vehicle.  "If we don't start now, that prophecy
won't take place," Orbach stated.  Earlier in the meeting the
committee heard about follow-up activities to this report from
Harriet Kung, BES Program Manager of Physical Behavior of
Materials.  The committee was told that  Kung is the chief contact
point for the hydrogen energy program at the Department of Energy.

Orbach usually includes in presentations, as he did in this
committee meeting, his observations about the importance of advanced
computation, saying that the "opportunities are phenomenal." He
cited as examples the development of new materials for fission,
fusion materials and human exploration of Mars.  Orbach praised
House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee
Chairman David Hobson (R-OH) for his support of advanced
computation.  "People really do care about the consequences of this
field," Orbach said.

Also discussed was the twenty-year facilities plan for the Office of
Science.  Saying that it "proved to be considerably more difficult
than I had imagined," Orbach described the plan's six year epochs as
near term, midterm, and long-term.  Twenty-eight projects are
scheduled.  Orbach will sign off soon on the first steps needed to
start the process for near term projects.  "Clearly we are not going
to make it" on the outlined schedule, since funding has yet to be
secured, he warned.   Although not all projects successfully made it
into the plan, Orbach defended the process.  Energy Secretary
Abraham will release this plan on November 10 at the National Press
Club.  His remarks, at 1:00 pm EST, will be broadcast live on
National Public Radio and C-SPAN.

Orbach turned his attention to the near term funding situation,
explaining that the Office of Science appropriations bill will not
be signed until November.  The energy policy bill,  stuck in
conference for unrelated reasons, has "wonderful" authorization
numbers, he said.  Calling the consequences of this bill's passage
for the Office of Science "enormous," Orbach explained that it has
been 15 years since the last authorization bill was passed.  "It is
the future of the Office of Science," he said, offering his
appreciation for the support of congressional committees and the
science community.  Regarding the FY 2005 budget, Orbach stated that
it was now under development, and that the numbers are still in
play.  Concluding his remarks, Orbach said the attitude toward his
office had never been more positive, and that "there was a real
understanding of science at all levels."

###############
Richard M. Jones
Media and Government Relations Division
The American Institute of Physics
fyi@aip.org    http://www.aip.org/gov
(301) 209-3094
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